Electric switch.



W. VAN P. STEIGER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION I'ILm) NOV. 12, 1908.

Patented May 18, 1909,

I NVENTOR walla WMM an ATTORNEYS TINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER VAN PATTEN STEIGER, OF BRIDGEPORT, CON NECTIOUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE PERKINS ELECTRIC SWITCH MFG. COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TVALTER VAN PATTEN STEIGER, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing in the city of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and Improved Electric Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches and particularly to push button switches, the object of my invention being to provide an improved escapement device whereby the stroke of the push buttons is shortened.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the operating mechanism of a push button switch illustrating my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the rock lever mounted on the switch standard, the spindle carrying the contact piece being in section; and Fig. 4 is a broken elevation of a modification.

The present invention will be readily un derstood by those skilled in the art without showing the usual porcelain case and its common accessories and I have accordingly illus trated merely the yoke or cross bar A carrying the standard B on which the switch mechanism is mounted. The spindle C carries the oscillating contact member D adapted to make and break contact with the terminals (not shown) carried by the porcelain case. The coil spring S is also mounted on this spindle and its depending ends .9, s embrace the lugs (Z and 6 carried by the contact member D and the rock lever E respectively. The lug (Z works in the slot F in the standard and the extent of oscillation is thereby limited. A spring detent T carried by the lug 61 engages in notches f at each end of the slot F and serves to hold. the lug (1 during the downward travel of the out push button until disengaged by one of the cam shoulders c on the rock lever, thus insurjpg a snap break and make for the switch.

To actuate the rock lever E with a shorter stroke of the push button than is customary I now propose to pivot the same eccentric to the spindle C, for instance above at P, as illustrated. This enables me to make the distance from P to the points of attachment m and a for the push buttons M and N considerably less than the distance from P to Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed November 12, 1908.

Patented May 18, 1909.

Serial No. 462,280.

the spring tensioning lug c, and to the actuating cam-shoulders e Pressure suflicient to move the points we and n through a comparatively small arc will therefore move the points 6 and 6 through arcs which, while sul tending the same angle, have a considerably greater length. Thus the stroke of the push button may be made materially shorter than it must be where the rock lever is pivoted on the spindle S. The action of the present rock lever is practically that of bell crank lever having a short shank to which power is applied and a long shank carrying the actuating members at its extremity. The advantages of this arrangement are apparent since the push buttons may be made materially shorter and a considerable saving of: material. is effected. Furthermore the buttons project a less distance from the [ace of the switch and the latter thus presents an improved appearance.

It will of course be understood that the arrangement shown is merely illustrative and I do not limit myself to the precise forms or details shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Thus for example a sliding detent actuated by a pin on the rock lever E is shown in Fig. 4. The device may be adapted to various forms oi switches without departing from my inven tion.

I claim as my invention.

1. In a switch of the character described, a pivoted contact member, a spring to actuate the same, and a detent adapted to oppose the movement of said contact member, in combination with a rock lever provided. with means to tension said spring and means to free said detent, said. rock lever being pivoted eccentric to said contact member and. provided with actuating means adjacent the pivoting point of said rocking lever to obtain a bell crank lever action of the character de scribed.

2. In a switch of the character described, a spindle carrying the contact member, a rock lever pivoted on one side of the said spindle and provided with a spring actuating lug and a detent-freeing cam arranged to operate on the other side of said spindle, together with actuating means secured to said rock lever at a point adjacent its pivoting point, whereby a comparatively short stroke of the actuating means secures a compara tively long stroke of said spring-actuating from its pivoting point than that of the lug and detent-freeing cam, substantially as points at which the actuating force is applied described. to said lever, substantially as described.

3. A switch having a ivoted contact i In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 member, a rock lever pivote eccentric t0 the name to this specification, in the presence of latter and sprliiig means forfogleraiting the two subscribing Witnesses.

ormer u on t e actuation o t e atter, in combinaiiion with a detent adapted to op- WALTER VAN PATTEN SHEIGER' pose said contact member and means in connection with said rock lever having its actu- 1 ating parts arranged at a greater distance Witnesses:

G. W. GOODRIDGE, H. W. GOLDSBOROUGH. 

